In a landmark decision, the Manohar Parrikar led Ministry of Defence has given the nod for induction of women into the combat stream of Indian Air Force.
The first women pilots in the fighter stream of IAF will be selected from the current batch at Air Force Academy, said Defence Ministry.
After successful training, women pilots would be commissioned in the fighter stream in June, 2016. Thereafter, they would undergo advanced training for one year and enter a fighter cockpit by June 2017.
The Ministry said the step is “In keeping with the aspirations of Indian women and is in line with contemporary trends in Armed Forces of developed nations.”
“Since their induction into the transport and Helicopter streams of the IAF, their performance has been praiseworthy and at par with their male counterparts,” the Ministry added.
The first women pilots in the Fighter stream of IAF will be selected from the current batch at AF Academy. pic.twitter.com/xqbTJgdrnu
— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) October 24, 2015
Earlier this month, the IAF chief Arup Saha had announced that the military is working on a plan to induct women as fighter pilots.